Switch handle



May 10, 1932.

H. HUBBELL, JR, ET AL swn'cn HANDLE Filed April 30, 1929 Patented May10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE HARVEY HUBBELL, JR, AND CHARLES E.AVERY, OF BRIDGEPOBT, CONTTECTICUT, A S- SIGNOBS TO HARVEY HUBBELL,INCORPORATED, OF BEIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT SWITCH Application filed April 30,

This invention relates to an electric switch device and moreparticularly to the construction of the operating handle and associatedelements, and has for an object to provide an improved operating handleconstruction for a switch mechanism which is very simple in constructionand may be manufactured and assembled at a relatively low cost.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved handleconstruction for toggle switches which will have an improved means forclosing the opening in the face plate or cover plate.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel features of construction, combinations, and arrangement ofparts as will more fully be disclosed in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

In these drawings V Fig. 1 is a partial section and partial sideelevation of a switch mechanism provided with our improved operatinghandle.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with the face or cover plateremoved, the view being substantially on the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation and partial section of the operatinghandle removed from the switch.

Fig. 4 is similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is front elevation of the cover block for the switch mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section thereof substantially on line 6-6ofFig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a partial side elevation and partial section showing adifferent shape of handle.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing still another shape of handle.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the handle shown in Fig. 8 looking'fromthe left, and

Fig. 10 is an elevation looking from the right of Fig. 8.

The switch shown is a toggle switch mounted in a chamber 10 in aninsulating body member 11 open at its front side for insertion of theswitch mechanism. The switch mechanism is mounted in a frame 12 securedHANDLE 1929. Serial Manama.

to the body having spaced side walls between which is pivotally mounteda swing member 13 of substantially U-shape and pivoted at 14 in theframe 12. This swinging member carries the switch contact element-15which is movable toward and. from stationary switch contacts, oneofwhich is shown at 15.

This swinging member 13 is limited in its 'posite laterally extendingpivots 23 on its opposite side edges to pivotedly mount it in p theframe 12. It also has laterally extending lugs 24 to engage shoulders 25on the frame to limit its movement. This plate 22 has a reduced free end26 on which is mounted the knob or ball 27 forming a handle foroperating the switch, this ball having a tight fit on the portion 26.Between the ball and the bodyv of theplateis areduced neck 28 formingshoulders 29, and this neck is enclosed by an eyelet'of a drawn sheetmetal stamping comprising 'a tapered neck 30 to embrace the portion 28of the plate or lever 22 and also provided with a spherically shapedskirt 31 resting against the shoulders 29, this eyelet being heldagainst the shoulders by the ball or knob 27.

After the switch mechanism is mounted in the body the open side isclosed by a cap or cover 32 also of insulating material. 7 This coverhas a groove 33 in its front wall to receive the yoke 34. This yoke hastheusual ears 35 at its {opposite ends provided with the elongatedtransverse slot 36 to receive the screws for'securing the yoke to theears in a standard wall outlet box, not shown. The yoke is secured tothe body by means of screws 37 passing through'openings in the body andthreaded into the yoke, the yoke bei'ng'first' seated in the groove'33of the cap 32.. 1 The screws 37 and yoke 34.- therefore, also securetheoap132 over the open side of the body. At its center the yoke has aspherically shaped 2 it is preferable to form a curved flange 38 flange38, and the opening surrounded by this flange forms a passage for theoperating handle 27, 80. The skirt 31 lies within this flange 38 and thecurve of the flange is substantially on a sphere with the pivot 23 asthe center, so that as the handle is swung back and forth the skirt 31closes the opening in thefiange.

is flattened on its opposite sides so that it is substantiallyrectangular in cross section. The skirt is shown at 41 with its outersurface curved at 42 preferably with the pivots 23 of the plate 22 as acenter. Between these curved surfaces and the neck 43 are substantiallyflat surfaces 44 on which may be placed designations as On or Off whichare visible through the rectangular opening 46 in the face plate 45. Theeyelet 41 is stamped and drawn from sheet metal the same as the firstform. This form may also be used with the standard yoke 34 for mountingthe fixture while with the spherical form of Figs. 1 and on the yokealthough, even in this form the flange is not necessary. The skirt 41seats on top of shoulders 29. on the member 22 the same as in the firstform.

In Figs. 8, 9 and the skirt eyelet 47 is rectangular in cross section,the same as in Fig. 7 and as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10. The outersurface 48, however, is curved on the arc of a circle preferably withthe pivots 23 of the plate 22 as a center. This form can also be usedwith the standard yoke 84 and a face plate having a rectangular opening46. The skirt 47 seats on the shoulders 29 V of member 22,.the sameas inthe other forms.

7 It will be apparent from the above that the switch operating handle isof an improved and simple construction. The operating lever or plate 22may be stamped from flat metal of suitable gage while the eyelet 80, 31,41 or 47 may be stamped and drawn from sheet metaL The knob or ball 27may be made on an automatic screw machine. This construction effectivelycloses the opening in the face or cover plate and theyoke, and providesa neat and attractive appearance. The construction may be made andassembled at a relatively low cost as it may be made on auto-' maticmachinery and requires the minimum of material. I

7 Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1'. An operating handle for a toggle switch "comprising a substantiallyfiat metal punching having pivots on the opposite side edges thereof, astem projecting from one end and means on the other end for operativeconnection with a switch mechanism, a knob secured on the free end ofsaid stem, a sheet metal eyelet on the stem between the knob and thebody of the punching, said eyelet including a neck surrounding the stemand a skirt spaced from the knob to close an opening for the handle in aplate, and said knob engaging the outer end of the neck of the eyeletand securing the eyelet on the stem.

. 2. A handle for a toggle switch comprising a substantially flat bodymember having means for connection to a switch mechanism and a reducedstem projecting from one end providing shoulders, a knob on the end ofthe stem, a sheet metal eyelet having a neck embracing the stem betweenthe knob and the shoulders and having a skirt seated on said shoulders,and said knob engaging the neck of said eyelet and holding the skirtthereof seated on said shoulders.

3. A handle for a toggle switch comprising .a substantially flat bodymember having pivots on its lateral side edges and means on one end foroperative connection with the swltch mechanism, a reduced stem pro ectmgfrom theother end of said body member forming shoulders, a knob securedon the free end of the stem, a sheet metal eyelet having a neckembracing the stem and engaging the knob at its free end, said eyeletalso having a skirt at the other end of the neck seated on saidshoulders, and said knob having a tight fit on the stem and securing theeyelet thereon with its skirt portion seated on the said shoulders. Intestimony whereof we affix our s1gnature's.

HARVEY HUBBELL, JR.

CHARLES E. AVERY.

